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ATTORNEY T. M. OFFUTT GENERATOR Filed Feb. 12. 1924 #Sheets-Sheet 1 llllllll Illllllllllil Maf/@WW 'r. M. oFEuTT Nov. 17, 1925- GENERATOR Fild Feb. v12. 1924 4 sheets-sheet 2 mvEN-ron A- rvonnev T. M. OFFUTT Nov. 1 7, 1925- GENERATOR Filed Feb. 12. 1924 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR y ATTORNEY T. M. OFFUTT Nov. 17, 1925- GENERATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. l2. 1924 WNWWU m /zofi/a 6' 7L ATTORNEY Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNI TED STATES GENERATOR.

Application filed February le, 1924.

To all whom t may conce/m:

Be it known that I, Trroanis M. OFFUTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Connersville, in the county of Fayette and State of Indiana, have invented new and useful Improvements in Generators, ot which the following is a specification.

rlhis invention relates to improvements in steam boilers and has for an object the provision of Vmeans whereby steam may be generated by the use of electricity in a cheap and economical manner.

More specifically stated, the invention aims to provide a steam boiler which includes a number of electric heating uni-ts having means for selectively controlling their operation so that one or more of these units may be operated as vthe occasion may require.

Another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for supporting and housing the heating units and their conductor wires, whereby they will `be protected from the action of water and steanuthe supporting means further acting as a heat conducting means to distribute the heat from the heating units around the Iboiler shell to more readily heat water therein.

lVith the above and other objects in view, the invention further yincludes the 'following novel features and details of construction, to be hereinafter 'more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying `drawings and pointed out in the `appended claims.

In drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of `a steam boiler showing the application of the invention.

Figure 2 `is a transverse sectional view.

Figure 3 is a sectional view lon the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure t is an `enlarged `sectional view of one ofthe heating units.

Figure-5 is a diagrammatic view vshowing the arrangement of the circuits 'for `the heating units.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary plan view of a different arrangement of heating units.

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the same, `the view being partly in section. i

Figure 8 is a fragmentary transverse section on an enlarged scale and lillustratingthe position ofthe heating unit shown in Figures 6 and T within a boiler.

Figure 9 is a diagrammatic view of the Serial 11'0. 692,337.

circuit arrangement of the heating units shown in Figures 6, 'l' and 8.

'Figure 10 vis a detail view of a different form of switch.

Figure 1-1 isan enlarged longitudinal sec tional view illustrating a different method of supporting the heating units.

Figure 12 is an enlarged transverse sectional view of thejsame Figure 13`is 'a view similarto Figure 12 showing a different forni of the invention.

Figure 1l 4is a fragmentary section of still another form.

Referring to the drawings in detail wherein like characters of lreference denote corresponding parts, the reference character 10 indicates a steam boiler which is in the form of a shell of suitable strength and dimensions and which includes boiler heads 11 and 12. rlhe boiler is provided with a steam dome 13 and with a manhole 11i, the latter being normally closed by a cover or closure 15. The Yboiler is covered with an asbestos or other suit-able heat resisting c ov'er 16 and may be supported in any suitable manner `as by vmasonry 17.

Located within 'the boiler 10` is a plurality of selectively controlled heating units, `around which water 'in the boiler circulates for the Apurpose `of heating the same. These heating units are supported `by horizontally arranged ,pipes 18 which extend longitudinally vof the boiler and which have one of their ends Aextending through openings pro-- vided in the head 12. The opposite ends of these pipes 18 are connected by means of unions 19 with short pipe sections 20, the latter extending through openings provided in the he'ad 11 and being removably held in place by collars 21 which are threadedly secured -to the .pipe section 2O upon opposite sides of the head 11. A suitable packing 22 is interposed between the collars and the adjacent faces of the head 11 so as to prevent leakage. The ends of the pipes 18 which eX- tend through the head 12 are likewise secured in `place by collars 23 which are threadedly mounted upon the ends of the pipes and which hold in place suitable packing 211. This end of each o'f the pipes is closed by a removable plug or closure 25. The .pipes 18 thus in addition to providing supporting means for the heating units, serve to connect and reinforce the boiler heads. rllhe pipes may be readily removed by Adisconnecting the same vfrom the Cil sections and removing the pipes through the man-hole 14.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 to 5 inclusive, the heating units are arranged in what may be termed single formation, while in Figures 6, 7, 8 and 9, the heating units are arranged in double formation. In each form of the invention the heating units are arranged in groups, one group being connected and in communication with each pipe 18. Each unit comprises a suitable metallic housing 2G which is connected to and communicates with its particular pipe 18 by a short pipe section 27. Located within the housing is a heating element which includes a coil 28, the latter being positioned within a casing 29 of clay or other suitable yheat absorbing material, the coil and clay casing providing a heating element which is spaced from the walls of and supported within the housing by transversely arranged supporting arms 30. A heating space 31 thus surrounds the heating element. The pipes 18 may be supplied with suitable insulating lining 32.

Any number of heating units or groups of iheating units may be employed, depending upon the size and use of the boiler Iand the particular arrangement of the units and groups may be varied. In the arrangement shown in Figures 1 to 5 the heating units are located within and around the lower portion of the boiler being spaced from the inner wall of the boiler shell by spacing members 33, which may be of suitable heat conducting material so that a portion of the heat will travel through these members 32 to the shell of the boiler and additional heating surface provided. In the arrangement of heating units just mentioned, one group may be located above the central group `and spacing members 34 may be arranged between the pipe of the central group and the group located directly above.

The wire for the single formation of heating units is shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, the three units indicated at A being connected in parallel with an electric generator G and with a switch S, whereby the heating elements of each unit of the group may be selectively controlled. As the wiring arrangement of each group is identical, only the wiring of one group will be described. The coils 28 of the heating elements are connected by conductors 35, 36, and 37 with contacts 38, 39 and 40 respectively which are included in the switch S and are also connected by a common return wire 41 which leads from the opposite side of the generator to a pivotally movable ,arm 43 which is included in the switch S. A lamp or other signal 44 is included in each of the conductors 35, 36 and 37 so as to provide means for indicating the flow of current through the coils. rlhe conductors 35,

36 and 37 and 41 extend through the pipes 13 and 27 and are thus protected from the action of water and steam. The arm 43 is adapted to be moved into contact with one or more of the contacts 38, 39 and 40 so that one or more of the heating units of each group may be brought into operation. rIhus, when the arm 43 engages the contact 38, current will vflow from the generator through the conductor 42, the switch arm, the contact 33, the conductor 35, the lamp 44, the coil 28 and baclr to the generator through the conductor 41. The switch arm is so constructed as to engage either one or all three of the contacts so that one, two or three heating units of each group may be employed.

In the arrangement shown in the remaining figures of the drawings, the construction is substantially the same except that cach pipe 18*L supports a plurality of pairs of heating units A which are connected to the pipe by oppositely disposed short pipe sections 27a. If desired, one end of the pipes 18a may be supported in bearings 45 which extend from the head 12 of the boiler shell. In Figure 9 the wiring arrangement for the group shown in Figure 6 is illustrated. In this figure the generator G has connected thereto a conductor 46 which is connected to one end of each heating coil by conductors 47, the opposite ends of the coils being con-l nected to one another by conductors 48 which are in turn connected to contacts 49, 50 and 51 by conductors 52. Signal lamps 53 are connected in the last mentioned conductors. The switch arm of substantially the same shape as shown in Figure 5 is mounted for engagement with the contacts 49, 50 and 51 and this switch arm which is indicated at 54 is connected by a conductor 55 with the generator Gr. By engaging the switch arm with the contacts 49, 50 and 51 a circuit may be closed through either one pair of heating units or a number of pairs, as explained in connection with Figure 5 of the drawings. Thus a pair of heating units, two pairs or an entire group may be employed, or any number of groups.

It is preferred to close both ends of the pipes 18 and 18a so as to prevent the lowering of temperature within the boiler from the action of outside air and for this purpose the ends of the pipes which extend through the heads 11 have extending therefrom pipe sections 56 whose outer ends are closed by caps 57 through which the conductor wires extend.

In Figures 11 to 14 inclusive the heating units are shown as supported within pipes which connect the opposite ends of the boiler instead of upon the pipes. These pipes are indicated at 18b and like the pipes 18 are of sectional formation so as to facilitate their removal and insertion, while their opposite ends may be closed by plugs 58. In Figures 11 and 12 the heating elements are indicated at 59 being arranged within the pipe 18b and spaced therefrom by spacing lugs 60. Conductor wires 6l connect the heating elements 59, the said conductor wires extending through one of the plugs 58 so that the heating elements may be included in an electric circuit as previously described. The opening through which the conductor wires pass may be sealed as indicated at 62.

In Figure 13 a single relatively long heating element 63 is arranged within the pipe 18, while in Figure lat the metallic housing of the heating element is dispensed with and the clay casing 29 which houses the heating coil 28 is spaced from the pipe 18b by spacing lugs 64.

rIhe invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having described the invention what is claimed is l. The combination with a steam boiler, ot' a plurality of horizontally arranged pipes located within the boiler, a plurality of separate containers supported by and communieating with the pipes, combined spacing elements and heat conductors located between and connecting the containers and the boiler, heating elements located within the containers, electric conductor wires housed within the pipes and connected to the heating elements and means whereby said heating elements may be selectively controlled.

2. The combination with a horizontally disposed steam boiler, of a plurality of horizontally arranged pipes located within the boiler and spaced around the lower portion above the bottom of the boiler, a plurality of separate containers communicating with and spaced below the pipes, combined spacing and heat conducting elements extending from the containers and engaging the boiler, electric heating elements within the containers, electric conductor wires extending through the pipes and connected to the heating elements and means whereby the heating elements may be controlled.

3. The combination with a steam boiler, ot' a plurality of pipes extending longitudinally within the boiler, said pipes being formed ot separate axially aligned sections, means for removably securing one end of each section in the opposite ends of the boiler, a coupling removably connecting the adjacent ends of the sections, a plurality of separate containers supported by and communicating with the pipes, heating elements located within the containers, electric conductor wires housed within the pipes and connected with the heating elements and means whereby the heating elements may be controlled.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

THOMAS M. OF FUTT. 

